We’ll meet again

FOUR of the trade’s retail chains have agreed to a raft of measures aimed at improving working conditions in the industry.

Representatives from Going Places, First Choice, Thomas Cook and British Airways Travel Shops, plus ABTA, found Travel Weekly’s inaugural human resources forum such a success they plan to meet again in the new year.

The participants – Going Places HR director Katie Clough and HR adviser Sharron Dowling, First Choice HR director Jacky Simmonds, Thomas Cook HR director Clive Adkin, British Airways Travel Shops HR manager Kerry Turner and ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds – agreed on the crucial need for greater co-operation to improve agent retention and job security.

Concerned about the industry’s high staff turnover rate – estimated to be 30% – the group have agreed to share information on why staff leave the sector and to find agents alternative roles in the trade when redundancies are made.

The retailers agreed to consider the potential of ABTA’s Accredited Travel Professional training scheme, which aims to make travel a respected sector with industry-wide training standards.

Recent employment legislation has also encouraged the retailers to share best practice – particularly next year’s Information Consultation Directive. This gives all employees the right to demand access to company-wide information affecting them.

Guest speaker Jill Foley, managing director of consultancy 7days which aids companies during restructures, said the trade should make more of the diverse jobs available to attract and retain staff.

Thomas Cook’s Adkin said the forum was "good for the whole industry”.